Orange hosts national CrossFit Masters tournament in October

Hundreds of fitness enthusiasts from across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe are expected in Orange next month as the Colour City hosts the 2024 CrossFit Masters League Games in October.

CrossFit is a popular training methodology that uses a variety of functional movements, weight training and high-intensity aerobic exercises to improve overall fitness.

About 500 competitors will take part in this year’s CrossFit Masters League Games, which will see athletes aged 35 to 70 compete in gruelling workouts that test their strength, endurance, agility and mental fortitude.

Held over three days at the Orange Showground, October 18-20, it will be the first time a Masters League event has been held in NSW, and it is expected to bring an estimated 1200 people to town.

Orange Mayor Cr Jason Hamling is looking forward to welcoming the CrossFit competitors to Orange.

“It’s fantastic to see yet another major sporting event coming to Orange for the first time,” Cr Hamling said. 

“October will see Orange’s climate at its best and I’m sure the competitors from all over Australia will have a ball. It will be great for local fitness enthusiasts to see Australia’s best first-hand.”

Director of Masters League Games Joe Riego says the event will be a great opportunity for Orange to see the best of the sport from across Australia.

“We’re excited to be bringing the CrossFit Masters event to New South Wales for the first time and we’re thrilled to be coming to Orange,” Mr Riego said.

“We were in New Zealand last year and thought that would be hard to beat. But Orange has a brilliant reputation for the beauty of its scenery and the quality of its food and wines. I know our participants are going to love being there.”

CrossFit is about building your physical capabilities in as many different areas as possible, explains local Crossfit coach and owner of Red City Gym, Lachlan Learg.

“We want you to be able to lift heavy, but we also want you to be able to run. We want you to be able to climb a rope, but also be able to swim and do a mixture of all those things together. So for most people, it is a way you can actually be as fit for life as possible,” Mr Learg said.

And fit for life regardless of age, he added, as will be on display at the Masters League Games.

“What we have seen over the years, and the Masters' comps are a great exhibition of that, is a whole lot of people tap into a level of fitness in later life that they probably didn't think was possible 15 or certainly 20 years ago,” Mr Learg said.

“We are seeing people maintain their level of fitness through their forties, well into their sixties and beyond. Or people start in later life and very much reverse age.

“Both of my parents do CrossFit and are in their 70s. Many of our members are in their 60s and 70s and don't often start until that stage of life and are pretty surprised at the changes that it can make.”

“We like to say that CrossFit isn't for everyone – and if you've found something you enjoy as your form of fitness, brilliant – but it is for anyone.”